The Royal Canadian Legion is well
known as Canada's foremost veterans' support association. That it is also
one of the country's largest community service organizations with programs
touching the lives of hundreds of thousands of ordinary citizens every year,
is known to far fewer Canadians. Because of its grass roots origins, the
Legion has always responded to the needs of communities. Since 1926, members
have been quietly working to improve the quality of life for all Canadians,
particularly veterans, seniors and youth. Here are some of the programs:

Veterans'
and Seniors' Services

Support to veterans, ex service members and their
families, health care, housing, social activities,
medical support, information;

Youth
Activities

Support to cadet corps, Scouts Canada, sports
organizations, and financial assistance in the form of
scholarships and bursaries;

Remembrance

Maintaining the
tradition of "remembrance" through the annual
Remembrance - Poppy campaign, conducting the "Two Minute
Wave of Silence", the establishment of "The Tomb of the
Unknown Soldier", organizing and conducting national,
regional and local Remembrance Day ceremonies, youth
poster and essay contests, school programs, and
pilgrimages to historic war time locations;

Community service

Financial and volunteer assistance to a wide range of charities.

The Legion
pays $6.8 million in property taxes annually.

Employs 2,150
full time and 3,400 part time employees.

Annually
spends $2 million on direct support to needy
veterans and contributes 852,000 hours of volunteer
time assisting veterans, ex service members and
their families.

Commits
$150,000 to veterans and seniors housing projects
annually.Spends $2 million on direct support to
seniors and contributes over 447,000 hours of
volunteer time assisting senior citizens on an
annual basis.

Spends $5.1
million a year on direct support to youth activities
and contributes 440,000 hours in volunteer time with
young Canadians.

Donates more
than $11.1 million to local charities and 808,000
hours annually to charitable agencies.

It is estimated that
the Legion's annual economic impact on communities exceeds $348 million.